BUYER-INITIATED SHIPPING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A system for providing a shipping label via an intermediary'"'"'s website comprising:
- a first server configured to maintain the intermediary'"'"'s website is configured to provide the shipping label with information including buyer shipping information received from a buyer computer for use by a seller to ship goods to a buyer via a shipping service provider, the first server being further configured to;
(A) receive registration information from the buyer computer, the registration information comprises data specifying registration of said buyer for a buyer'"'"'s shipping account with said shipping service provider upon accessing said intermediary'"'"'s website; and
(B) receive buyer shipping information by said buyer accessing said buyer'"'"'s shipping account and enter said buyer shipping information into a transaction management system accessible via said intermediary'"'"'s website, said buyer shipping information being associated with a transaction with said seller and including information to facilitate, at least in part, shipment of said goods to said buyer from said seller;
(C) receive a shipping label created by the transaction management system, wherein;
(1) said shipping label includes the buyer'"'"'s physical delivery address and preferred delivery time windows,(2) said delivery address is human readable, and(3) said shipping label is configured to facilitate shipment of said goods to said buyer; and
(D) transfer said shipping label to said seller via a link located on said intermediary'"'"'s website such that said seller can access said shipping label by using said link and can use said shipping label including said buyer'"'"'s physical delivery address and preferred delivery time windows to facilitate said shipment of said goods to said buyer via said shipping service provider.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method in which a buyer registers for a buyer'"'"'s shipping account and uses the shipping account to pay shipping costs associated with purchases made over the Internet. When a buyer purchases merchandise over the Internet from either a retailer'"'"'s website or from an individual through an online auction, the buyer is capable of controlling the shipping process by logging on to their buyer'"'"'s shipping account. Among other things, the buyer can use their shipping account to select the desired type of shipping service (overnight air or ground) and populate a shipping label with shipping information such as delivery address, return address, and preferred delivery time windows. Once the shipping label has been populated and verified, the shipping label is electronically transferred to the seller for use in shipping the package. The system and methods of the present invention allow the buyer greater control over the shipping process. In many cases, the present invention will also help buyers/receivers control costs by eliminating the shipper'"'"'s shipping and handling fee.
22 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for providing a shipping label via an intermediary'"'"'s website comprising:
a first server configured to maintain the intermediary'"'"'s website is configured to provide the shipping label with information including buyer shipping information received from a buyer computer for use by a seller to ship goods to a buyer via a shipping service provider, the first server being further configured to; (A) receive registration information from the buyer computer, the registration information comprises data specifying registration of said buyer for a buyer'"'"'s shipping account with said shipping service provider upon accessing said intermediary'"'"'s website; and (B) receive buyer shipping information by said buyer accessing said buyer'"'"'s shipping account and enter said buyer shipping information into a transaction management system accessible via said intermediary'"'"'s website, said buyer shipping information being associated with a transaction with said seller and including information to facilitate, at least in part, shipment of said goods to said buyer from said seller; (C) receive a shipping label created by the transaction management system, wherein; (1) said shipping label includes the buyer'"'"'s physical delivery address and preferred delivery time windows, (2) said delivery address is human readable, and (3) said shipping label is configured to facilitate shipment of said goods to said buyer; and (D) transfer said shipping label to said seller via a link located on said intermediary'"'"'s website such that said seller can access said shipping label by using said link and can use said shipping label including said buyer'"'"'s physical delivery address and preferred delivery time windows to facilitate said shipment of said goods to said buyer via said shipping service provider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer program product for providing a shipping label via an intermediary'"'"'s website, the computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code-portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:
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(A) a first executable portion configured to provide the shipping label with information including buyer shipping information received from a buyer computer for use by a seller to ship goods to a buyer via a shipping service provider; (B) a second executable portion configured to receive registration information from the buyer computer, the registration information comprises data specifying registration of said buyer for a buyer'"'"'s shipping account with said shipping service provider upon accessing said intermediary'"'"'s website; (C) a third executable portion configured to receive buyer shipping information by said buyer accessing said buyer'"'"'s shipping account and enter said buyer shipping information into a transaction management system accessible via said intermediary'"'"'s website, said buyer shipping information being associated with a transaction with said seller and including information to facilitate, at least in part, shipment of said goods to said buyer from said seller; (D) a fourth executable portion configured to receive a shipping label created by the transaction management system, wherein; (1) said shipping label includes the buyer'"'"'s physical delivery address and preferred delivery time windows, (2) said delivery address is human readable, and (3) said shipping label is configured to facilitate shipment of said goods to said buyer; and (E) a fifth executable portion configured to transfer said shipping label to said seller via a link located on said intermediary'"'"'s website such that said seller can access said shipping label by using said link and can use said shipping label including said buyer'"'"'s physical delivery address and preferred delivery time windows to facilitate said shipment of said goods to said buyer via said shipping service provider. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification